2011 Knolly Podium Frame - Large with 2012 Fox DHX RC4 - Kashima $1500 Color: Factory Raw This frame was originally purchased in the spring of 2011. In the fall of 2011 the front triangle, seatstay, and chainstay were replaced on warranty. At the time,

As part of the result from the crash was 3 weeks of amnesia, I'll let my good friend Lacy Kemp's article in March 2012's Decline do the telling for me ("Dream Destination: Peru"). My version is a bit fuzzy to say the least. I have been back to riding a little less than 2 months and feel great. I owe every bit of my recovery to my friends, family, supporters, and the biking community as a whole. So THANKS!! If you're riding in the PNW or the WBP, look for the big dude shredding in an eye patch and say hi for a high five. Everyone's love is something I will never forget.

The Bad: - A bit warm on super hot days or very long climbs
- Visor warped a bit after being in the sun on a black table in 80 degree heat for 8 hours at our expo booth (plus side is that if the visor is removed it can be set back to flat pretty easily with a heat gun and something big heavy and flat)

Overall: This thing saved my life. Not in a figurative "I got a small branch to the head, OMG" way, in a completely literal life-saving way. Read on for a few more details.
I took a very serious crash in Peru in the fall (see March 2012 Decline for more deets on the trip and crash). Absolutely every doctor I've seen said had I not been wearing a helmet I surely would have died (some even laughed at the question). Also every one of them said had I been wearing a less protective helmet I would have most likely come out out of the wreck with serious permanent brain damage. I'm off the bike for a few more months, but my recovery is going amazingly well (most people would still be in bed now, not out building trails and riding their trainer 5 days a week). I owe a massive portion of that to Urge, their awesome US distributor, and my Endur-O-Matic. Although pretty clearly unusable now the lid keeps a prominent spot on my gear shelf.
All things considered that benefit probably outweighs any cons, eh?

@Shenzi "Even if now Leatt and A-Stars says that the back piece is supposed to break under a certain load." I can vouch for that little carbon bit on the Leatts breaking under a certain load as I did mine in a couple months ago. It's hard to say what ... more »